House Races

Former Astronaut Hernandez to Run for Congress in California

A former astronaut has announced his candidacy for Congress in California's 10th District after being urged to run by the Obamas.

Jose Hernandez told The Huffington Post that both the president and first lady spoke to him at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Awards Gala on Sept. 14 and encouraged him to run.

Hernandez will be running as a Democrat in the newly drawn 10th District, where Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., who currently represents the 19th District, also plans to run. Hernandez was born in California to farmworkers who immigrated from Mexico.